Olaeta Leads Stifling Defense Against UC Irvine

Saturday, November 28

Irvine, Calif.

3 PM

California Baptist University

2-0,0-0WAC

UC Irvine

0-1,0-0Big West

California Baptist

UC Irvine

Olaeta Leads Stifling Defense Against UC Irvine

11/28/2020 5:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Daniel Cook, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications

IRVINE – California Baptist University women's basketball took to the road for game two of the 2020-21 season and made it a memorable trip, defeating the Anteaters of UC Irvine 72-55 in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

"I was really happy with our energy both on the floor and on the bench. It's a good start and we have some good things to build on," said Head Coach Jarrod Olson.

The Lancers shot out to a quick 9-2 lead to force the UCI coaching staff to burn an early timeout in an effort to stop the momentum. They kept pouring it on however, leading 16-11 after the first quarter and 31-22 at half.

After the break, the 'Eaters switched things up, attempting to press the Lancers into making mistakes, but the CBU press break was on point. Eventually, CBU would build its lead to as much as 29 late in the third quarter.

UCI mounted a bit of a comeback in the fourth, outscoring CBU 22-12, but the game was in hand by that point and the Lancers took home a victory from the Bren Events Center.

Ane Olaeta led all scorers with 17 points and five assists, and Britney Thomas continued her comeback tear with 10 points and nine rebounds in 18 minutes of work. Freshman Nicole Avila-Ambrosi is making her presence known early. She was the second-leading scoring in the game with 14 on 4-6 shooting from beyond the arc.

👌👇👆 Freshman Nicole Avila-Ambrosi hits the three with the foul! Strong finish!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/lF469PG6TJ — CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) November 29, 2020

"Everybody was on point on the defensive end and then offense was so much easier," Olaeta said after the game. "It's easy to pass the ball when you have great shooters on the court."

She also admitted that the game is different, in a good way, with Thomas back in the lineup, "Having Brit back is great for everybody. She is a beast in the paint and it is very easy to play with her."

Reason 3⃣6⃣0⃣8⃣2⃣ Ane was the WAC Preseason Player of the Year...she can do it all! #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/USgYx8qmkt — CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) November 28, 2020

STEALING THE SHOW

Olaeta, the WAC Preseason Player of the Year, proved the voters knew what they were talking about, scoring 17 points on an efficient 8-12 shooting, adding seven rebounds, five assists, and a new career-high seven steals. Her previous career high was six against Westcliff in Jan. of 2019.

In all, California Baptist forced 15 turnovers, 12 of which were steals. Olaeta was the only Lancer with multiple steals as five teammates chipped in one each.

"I tried to focus on what we've been working this week in practice, and I stayed locked in," Olaeta stated. "I wanted to win on defense because I knew that would lead us to have more flow on offense."

THE BEST DEFENSE, IS DEFENSE

The Lancers played strong two-way basketball but the defense led the way by holding the 'Eaters to just 23.9 percent shooting from the field, and an even lower 17.9 percent from three-point land.

"I thought we played with a really good intensity on defense," said Olson. "Our focus in the third quarter was really good. Ane set the tone defensively with her steals and rebounding."

WHAT'S NEXT

The Lancers will stay on the road for their next contest, heading down to San Diego State on Wednesday, Dec. 2 for a bout with the Aztecs. The Lancers dropped last year's contest in Riverside by a score of 80-68.